Finger-print table.



P. A. FINGER PRINT TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I2, ISIS,

. 1,290, 15.4. Patented Jan. 7, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEEI I.

lnucnfoz P. A. FLAK.

FINGER PRINT TABLE.

APPLICATION man APR. I2. 1913.

1,29 1 Ms Patented Jan. 7, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

run stares I PATENT OFFER.

PETER A. FLAK, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE IDENTIGRAPH COM- PANY, INCL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FINGER-PRINT TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. "3, 1919.

Application filed April 12, 1918. Serial No. 228,200.

.following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for taking finger prints and its purpose is to provide a board, desk or table of this character 1n which the ink plate, or finger-inking plate,

is made disappearing, that is to say, it is secured to the finger print board or table in such a way that this plate can be placed into a suitable recess in the table, so that the inkcarrying surface will be protected and not be exposed to dust or injury during the time that the. device is not in use. Another fea ture of my invention is to keep the ink plate been shown in the accompanying drawings,

in which Figure 1 is a perspective viewof one form of my invention, with the ink plate in the position of use; Fig. 2 is a front view of thedevice shown in Fig. 1, with parts in section, the ink plate being shown in this view in the folded in position; Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, but showing the ink plate in the position of use; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but with the ink plate in the position shown in Fig. 2; Figs. 5, 6 and 7 show another form of my invention; Fig. 5 being a partial top View, and Figs. 6 and 7 sections taken on lines 6-6 and 7-7 respectively of Fig. 5.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4, the device consists essentially of a table or board A provided in its upper surface with an opening or recess A preferably of rectangular shape, into which fits a block or leaf B of corresponding shape secured to the table, preferably along that side edge of the recess which extends parallel to the front edge of the table, by means of hinges C. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the block or leaf B can be swung out of the recess A and folded back until it rests on the surface of the table, a ring or catch D secured to the leaf and normally resting in a suitable recess B facilitating this operation. The leaf B forms a backing .or carrier for the finger-inking plate E, which plate is secured to that face of the leaf B which in the folded out position forms the upper surface of said block. It will be seen from Figs. 1 and 3 that the plate E extends approximately to the edge of the table A, so that separate rolled impressions can readily be made from each individual finger of a person standing or sitting in front of the table.

During the time the device is not being used, the leaf B together with the ink-plate E will rest in the recess A, and in order to prevent the plate E from coming in contact with the bottom of the recess, the leaf B is stepped off as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 at B, said steps resting on corresponding projections or ledges A, in the recess A. It will be seen that the depth of the recess A is somewhat greater than the aggregate thickness of the leaf B and the plate E so that with this arrangement the ink-carrying sur face of the plateE can not come in contact with the bottom of the recess and is thus well protected against dust and injury while the apparatus is not in use.

For the sake of convenience, the table A isprovided with short downward extensions F to which are hinged the legs or supports G which latter are held in their supporting position by means of links G and springs G, but which, when the device is not in use, can be folded against the underside of the board A, or against a drawer F which drawer may be provided as illustrated between extensions F, these legs being shown in folded position, in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

The form of my invention shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 differs from the one just described in that the ink plate is not secured to its support or backing rigidly, but is pivotally connected therewith so that it can turn relatively thereto.

For this purpose the ink plate E is provided with a centrally-located pivot member H, secured thereto as by riveting or otherwise. This pivot member extends loosely into a sleeve I provided in a suitable through-opening B in the leaf B this opening leading into a socket or recess B rovided in the lower face of the leaf B for the reception of the head of a screw J screwing from below into the pivot member H.

The sleeve I has at its upper portion a flange I which forms a bearing for the ink plate E. The head of the screw J is somewhat spaced from the lower end of the pivot member H, and a suitable spring washer K is interposed between this head and the member H, the edge portions of the washer bearing against the inner faces of the recess 13*. It will be seen that with this arrangement the ink plate E can be readily turned with respect to the leaf B, yet the plate will be very stable and prevented from wabbling, the spring washer tending to hold the plate firmly in engagement with the bearing flange I.

The arrangement shown in Figs. 5 to 7 is of particular advantage in taking both the rolled and plain impressions from all ten fingers, since this may then conveniently be done with only one inking of the plate. After the fingers of one hand have been inked on one portion of the inking plate, the plate may be swung around on its pivot through an angle of 180, whereupon the fingers of the other hand may likewise be inked. As will be seen clearly from Fig. 7 the front edge of the leaf B is slightly beveled, so as to fit, a correspondingly beveled Wall of the recess A, when the leaf is in its folded position, thus insuring a tight, dust-proof closure while the apparatus is not in use.

As an additional steadying means for the inking plate, I may provide in the leaf B suitable spring catches L such as shown in Fig. 6, which will enter corresponding depressions E in the plate E, when the latter is in one or the other of its operative positions.

Various modifications may be made with out departing from the nature of my invention as set forth in the appended claims. Thus I may for instance give the ink plate a square instead of an oblong shape whereby four inking operations may be performed without necessitating a re-inking of the plate.

I claim:

1. In a finger-print device, a table having a recess, and a finger inking plate adapted to lie in said recess face down when the device is not in use.

2. In a finger-print device, a table having a recess formed with steps, a finger inking plate, and a carrier for said plate adapted to lie in said recess when the device is not in I 5. In a finger-print device, a carrier, and

a finger inking plate pivoted thereto to swing in a plane parallel to that of the carrier.

6. In a finger-print device, a'carrier, a'

finger inking plate pivoted thereto to swing in a plane parallel to that of the carrier, and means for locking the plate to the carrier in any one of a plurality of positions.

7. In a finger-print device, a table, a carrier pivoted thereto to swing about a horizontal axis so that it may be inverted and a finger inking plate pivoted to said carrier to swing in a plane parallel to that of the carrier.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of March, 1918.

PETER 'FLAK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 0! Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

